George o



(No Model.)

G. O. SIMMONS.

' ELASTIGWBUGKLE SHIELD.- N0. 382,244. V Patented May 1. 1888.

avwomkoz N, PETERS. Phnwlmm n her. Waihinglnn. 0.04

amila woo as GEORGE O. SIMMONS, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

ELASTIC BUCKLE SHIELD.

senoIPIc'ATIoN forming part of Letters Patent No. 382,244, dated May 1,1888;

Application filed October 7, 1887. Serial No. 251,676. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE O. SIMMONS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Elastic Buckle-Shields; and I do herebydeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to shields for buckles, and has for its object theproduction of a simple and convenient covering for buckles, so as tohide them from view and prevent their coming in contact with interferingobjects.

The invention will be hereinafter described, and particularly pointedout in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification,Figure 1 represents the application of my improved shield to thebreeching of a set of harness. Fig. 2 shows a front view of shieldcovering a buckle, and Fig. 3 a perspective view of the same.

Reference being had to the drawings and the letters marked thereon, Arepresents the elastic buckleshield which constitutes my presentinvention, the sides of which, B G, are made tapering,thus giving theshield the cuneiform appearance shown in Fig. 3; and D is the backandshallowest portion of the device.

The shield, having been constructed substantially as described, isapplied to a buckle by first expanding it by separating the sides B G,then placing it over the top of the buckle to be covered, and drawing itdown to the position shown in Fig. 2. The tension being then released,the shield contracts, owing to the elasticity of the rubber, thusbinding the buckle and firmly retaining its position when once adjusted.The tapering form of the sides B 0 adds materiallyto the ease with whichthe shield may be applied to a buckle, for it is obvious that if'theupper portion of the buckle is narrower than the bottom or widest partof the shield the latter can be drawn over the former without thenecessity of first separating the sides B 0.

Owing to its elasticity one size shield is ca pable of fitting severalsized buckles, and

when once adjusted the same force retains it in position without anyadditional means.

The material used is rubber, which may be black, corresponding with theleather of harness, giving to it a rich and finished appearance, or ofany other color, according to the use to which it is put and the partswith which it should harmonize.

It is a well-known fact that if the buckles of the breeching in a set ofharness are un protected the hairs of the horses tail are very apt to becaught in the tongue of the buckle, which is an annoyance to the animalas well as to its driver; but by the use of my improved shield thisdifificulty obviated entirely.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim is- 1. Theherein-described shield for buckles, made of rubber, whereby it isretained in position by the natural contraction of the material of whichit is made, substantially as described.

2. The herein-described shield for buckles, made of rubber and havingone end contracted, whereby it is retained in position by the naturalcontraction of the material of which it is made, substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

' GEO. O. SIMMONS.

Witnesses:

JAMES KIPP, J. T. AOKERMAN.

